A significant birthday is being celebrated this year at an Eden church for what could be the oldest bell in Cumbria.
The second bell in the tower at the church of St Andrew’s, Dacre, has rung out across fields in the area for 650 years.
It was made when Edward III was King of England and Robert II was King of Scotland.
Records show that the bell, which is part of a ring of three, was cast in York by John de Kirkham in 1371 and is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To celebrate the old bell, children from Stainton school and village residents took part in a workshop which included making bell-related crafts and having a go at ringing the bell.
Keith Scobie Youngs, of the Cumbria Clock Company, which is based in the village, gave a talk about the bell and helped those present to ring it.
Rev Catherine Helm, priest in charge of St Andrew’s Dacre, Watermillock and Matterdale, said: “Some found ringing easier than others, but all enjoyed ringing such a significant bell. Some remembered it ringing for special family occasions.”
As part of the workshop, the Rev Helm said the children tried to imagine what it would have been like for the people in Dacre hearing the bell for the first time — 650 years ago.
Over the centuries, the bell had been rung to mark time, to celebrate weddings, coronations, victories, as well as funerals and warning of danger.
The celebration continued with a special service of Advent Evensong on Sunday with Advent Carols and readings, acknowledging the significance and the joy of hearing bells calling people to worship and marking those significant times in life.
Rev Helm added: “Is this the oldest bell in Cumbria? It could be, and we were delighted to be able to celebrate as it continues to ring out across the fields and fells, calling people to worship.”
